Sarah Fielke BOM - the top is done!!

It's done and it's huge. 

The borders didn't really take as long to do as I had thought they would. I put them together in an afternoon! 

The outer border that is. There was some fiddling with the size of the inner border...

But here it is

 

 The top is done and I love it. 

I am seriously considering hand quilting it. 

What do you think?

Sarah Fielke BOM - center done ✅

The center of the quilt is done!

I managed to sew the blocks together without having to unpick at all! 

I'm quite proud 😉

 

Here it is, hanging on a doorframe. I have no design wall. So this is it!

It's pieced using a new-to-me step down method

 

It was not as difficult as I had feared. But then Sarah does give the best instructions!

Now I am going to tackle the borders. But that have to be another day. 

But soon! My templates for the 2017 BOM "Down the Rabbit Hole" have arrived. So I want to start that....

 

❤️🐰

Sarah Fielke BOM - finished my blocks ;-)

I did get a lot of sewing done today too. 

I also cheated and swapped 2 of the paper pieced blocks for some other pieced blocks. 

I really don't like paper piecing....

I started out following Sarah's pattern

 

This block is pieced in a regular (to me) way. Meaning with no paper :-)

 

The colors are a little lighter than what I have used most of so far, but I think it works. 

My LO will look something like this

 

I still need to sew all the blocks together. And add the borders. 

At least I have the corner border blocks done. But I still need to cut all the triangles for the borders. I can't believe I made it this far! 

I love this quilt already. 

....it's Sarah Fielke's 2016 BOM "Happy Days" 

Sewing - and a little bit of Copenhagen

I am finally feeling better! But you know how far behind you get?! After just a few days of being sick! Argh!

Anyway....today I really wanted to sew - and I really needed to catch up on some tidying and cleaning. Some laundry. Chores...

So, I made a rule: 45 mins sewing time, 30 mins of doing chores. 

And it worked! I got so much done today! I am not at all done cleaning and tidying. Or sewing. I finished all 4 corner blocks, though. So I am ready to piece the last 3 blocks tomorrow - and hopefully cut some of the borders. We'll see how far I get!

 This past week I spent a few days attending a class - this picture is taken in the morning on my way there. It's early, that's why it's a little dark..

A lot of these narrow streets are cobblestone and a pain to ride a bike on.
But they are very pretty!

 

This looks a little brighter 😊

I love these streets with the old and colorful houses ❤️

Sarah Fielke BOM - border corner blocks

I still have the flu 😷 

I am getting better, but not even close to being ok 😖 I have spent most of the weekend sleeping, but I have also listened to podcasts and stitched. 

 

Miss V had a sleepover at a friends house, and little A got to go to his dads house (thank you!), so I didn't have to look after anyone but me!

I finished 2 of the corner blocks for the outer border for my "Happy Days" quilt. 

2 weeks left to finish the top, and 3 big blocks left to sew. 

But first, I need to get rid of the flu... 

Sarah Fielke BOM - the Dresden plate

If I had read the instructions, and the underlined note next to the pattern, I would have known that Sarah's template included seam allowance. But no, that would have been too easy. 

So after fudging and redoing my Dresden plate looks like this

 

It's fine, it's done and I am happy with it. The heating pad sewing took up all my sewing time this weekend, so I still need to piece 5 blocks! But that will hopefully be less challenging than making a Dresden from the wrong template 😊

Sarah Fielke BOM status

This is how far I am 

 

Excuse my "design-floor" - I don't have a designated sewing space 😊

I am going to try to sew some of the pieces blocks this weeekend - hopefully I'll have a progress shot soon. 

Happy weekend and happy sewing to you too!

Sarah Fielke BOM - update #3

I believe this is my last "catch-up" post for the Sarah Fielke Happy Days quilt. 

I am still working on blocks and scrambling to get the top done before the new BOM starts 😊

I have finished the checkerboard block. 

 

This was one of the blocks I finished during the Christmas holidays. I had prepped a lot of appliqué in advance - that meant I could sit and sew. It was very enjoyable and quite the success! 

The block with the flowers in a cup was finished quite a while back, but just never shared:

 

The handle and the cup were challenging. But otherwise a fun block to sew. 

Pattern is Happy Days, Sarah Fielke's 2016 BOM

Sarah Fielke BOM - the bird and the wreath!

This weekend I spent 6 hours on a train. So naturally I brought my appliqué 

I finished this little bird

 

All I had prepped in advance for the wreath block was to glue down the bias tape. 

 

I cut the leaves, made the hexies, glued everything down and started stitching. All while on the train!

I love these blocks!

Pattern is Sarah Fielke's 2016 BOM

Sarah Fielke BOM - update

I have made some - but not all - of my blocks for the Happy Days quilt. Sarah Fielkes BOM for 2016.

I still need to finish some, and I would really love to get that done before her 2017 BOM starts at the end of January.
Anyway.....I have not been sewing the blocks in the right order, so heres what I've completed so far:

I finished Alain the bunny - I dreaded sewing him, but it was fine! Sarah explains everything in the pattern and the videos, so I had a lot of help!

I also finished the hexie flower, this was a fast and fun block. To me it looks a lot harder than it is. Fast and fun finish :-)

The hawaiian applique is fun, and it is easy to take along whereever you go, but this one sure did need a lot of stitches....and it had a lot of curves. But I like the way it turned out.

I have a few more, but they'll have to wait until the next post!

Sarah Fielke BOM - Month 4, Block 2: Hawaiian Applique

I am so happy I signed up for Sarah Fielke's BOM - I am learning to many new techniques! Doing applique is new to me, and something I have always wanted to learn - and also my main reason for signing up. 

This month is also applique, there are 3 blocks (1 piecing and 2 applique). I started out with the block using Hawaiian applique. Another technique I have never tried before :)

I admit, that it felt as if this block had as many stitches as all the other blocks combined. But I think that is because it is all one piece, all one color, and it is 4 sections that are the same.... So probably more because I get a little bored :)

I did finish it,and I love it

I you want to see some of all the other fabric choices for this BOM, go to #sarahfielkebom on Instagram - lots of beautiful blocks! 

Sarah Fielke BOM - Block 7

This was a difficult one to complete. But the purpose of joining the BOM was to learn - so the challenges are good.

Look! Points! That made me happy :) So far, so good!

Here is the block with the rest of what I have finished so far:

Well....the vine border block on the bottom is not completed. I am still working on that.

Today (or rather yesterday) was also a happy mail day. I received these needlekeeps, they are going to be really helpful for me to keep track of my appliqué needles.

Miss V wants the green one wiht the rabbit, so if I need more than one, I'll have to order a new one for me.

Sarah Fielke BOM: Practicing needle turn appliqué

Moving on to month 2 of Sarah Fielkes BOM, and this is a lot of applique setting blocks. It's a good thing I have until October to get these done. I am new at appliqué (actually I have no idea what I am doing), but it was one of the reasons for me signing up for this BOM. I have always loved Sarah Fielkes quilts, but have never made one, because I was intimidated by all the appliuqué (we'll talk about all the hand quilting another day....)

Anyway, I have prepped the appliqué blocks with green stems, I have cut my leaves, and I am ready to go. We'll see how I do. This is how far I got, before I had to stop last night. Also, I need to get more thread - I apparantly don't sew a lot in yellow, orange and light green :-)

In all fairness, Sarah gives excellent instructions in this BOM, so if ever I am going to learn, it is going to be while finishing this :-)

The Splendid Sampler, Block 4 "Happy Happy"

2016 will be the year I learn to appliqué...I will! I love appliqued quilts, but I am way too intimidated to try it.

This year I have made sure I am part of different projects that all include appliqué - because then I can't avoid it :) I didn't know The Splendid Sampler would be one of them, but why not?

Jen Kingwell designed this block, and I loved making it. It's a little wonky in places, but for a first try I would say it is ok.

Lazy weekend

My 8two8 has been left for too long now. I am quite intimidated by it, but since I would hate for it to end up as a UFO, I need to get started... So today I basted it while A was napping... It's large, I am a little worried about quilting it, but we'll see how it goes :)

I have all my pins in use (thank you Diana) for this one :)

I am also working on a pillowcase for a 28" sq. pillowcase for a floor cushion for the kids. I have been sewing the hexagons for a while, not having a specific project in mind for them. So now they are ending up part of a pillowcase :)

I quilted them last night.Lots of stopping and turning. I am so glad it was just a smallish square and not a full size quilt!

Charles is attending a PhD course this week, so he is in Italy. Before he left, he gave me this book:

YAY! I love it, it has some wonderful projects in it. I may just have to start doing some more appliqué!
More pictures here.

42 days until Christmas....

....and 17 days until December 1st! And I am finally done with Violas Advent calendar bag. Instead of hanging all 24 presents on a regular Advent calendar, we give the children the presents one at a time every day in December. That way they don't get too impatient, and I don't have to have 48 little presents ready by December 1st. LOL! Viola will be getting her presents in this bag -I am ashamed to say, that Ask may have to wait until next year to get his very own homemade bag :(
The little house is made from "Welcome to the North Pole" by Piece O'Cake Designs.
I tell myself that he is so young still that he won't mind -please just agree with me! LOL!
I lined the bag with a Michael Miller Christmas-print. I bought this fabric last year, or the year before, and I love it! The only reason I haven't used it is, that I couldn't bring myself to cut into it. I am happy that I didn't, because I really like it in this project.

I have made some progress on my hexagons... I unpicked the brown, didn't like that after all... Charles wants me to make a quilt. Are you kidding me?! That would take me forever! But so far I am happy sewing these, and I like how scrappy it is :)
I really shouldn't sew anything that isn't a Christmas-present, I have so many to finish, and only 42 days left!
I finished the blocks for my sisters quilt, I am still undecided as far as sashing goes....white or linen? What do you think?
I'm leaning towards white, probably because that is what I have in my stash!

I also should tell you, that Dana at Old Red Barn is having a give-away... She is giving away 3 (!!!) quilts to 3 winners.... Go visit her, but don't win the green quilt, I want to win that one. Me and 800 other bloggers.... LOL!

An award and some Christmas-projects

Suddenly there is not that long until Dec. 1st!! And I need to have 2 advent-calendar bags finished before then! So I have made some progress on Violas. I'm using Welcome to the North Pole by Piece O'Cake Design as my pattern.
My moon is a little pointy, I'm not that good at appliqueing circles -yet! I still have some work to do on this little house, but it is really fun to sew. I am so happy I finally got the courage to start something from this pattern! FUN FUN!

I have also been working on Violas birthday (or Christmas?) present. I saw this Lilypad Toss game on Mama Urchins blog, and I think it will be perfect for her. I made the frogs from a pattern in the book in the picture.. I have made 2 more, but they didn't make in into the picture....lost somewhere on my sewing-table!

Anyway...I'm going to sew the lily pads and a little bag to keep it all in. That's the plan right now, let's see how well I do. LOL!
First things first, I need to give these little frogs some eyes.

Karen has given me the Blogging Friends Forever award! Thank you so much!
Karen is a very talented quilter, you should go see her Christmas-quilt, I love it :-)
the Blogging Friends Forever is supposed to be passed on to 5 new blogs, but how can I choose only 5?? It is not possible for me, I have so many great blogging friends!

Now I am going to head into town (in the rain I might add!) to pick up my books for my next class.
I don't like rain :-(

Christmas sewing

I want to make little giftbags for the children instead of a stocking or a regular advent calendar.
To make them a little more festive and Christmas-looking, I decided to appliqué one of the little houses from "Welcome to the North Pole" by Piece'O'Cake Design onto each bag.
I started this a while ago, but then placed a window too low.... After dreading moving the window for weeks, I finally did it -it took 2 minutes!! Now I'm back on track with this little house. I need to add some white snowy ground for the house to stand on, then on to the fun stuff of sewing the actual bag and adding all the embellishments!

....and then make one more ;-)